parjanya

Posted by on 22 Jan 2012

Parjanya, our baby girl.
Born: 19 Jan 2012, 11:17AM IST @ the Ruby Hall Hospital, Pune.

parjanya

Parjanya (pronounced par-janya) is a sanskrit word, symbolizes “source of life” and “fertility”. In the vedas, parjanya is the one who brings the rain.

Parjanya and Pratyahara

Roxy (rocksea),  Juby (sarah) & Pratyahara

striped panchax

Posted by on 19 Oct 2011

The striped panchax has always fascinated me with its iridescent white spot on top of its head. It not only has the ability to flaunt it like a princess with its ornament, it can also hide the spot to avoid attention. The tail, with orange lines and dark spots, add to its beauty.

striped panchax

The striped panchax and its variants are found in the streams, rivers, paddy fields, throughout the Western Ghats. This fish lives just by the water surface, in look out for the aquatic and terrestrial insects and larvae, which consists a significant part of its diet. It is possible that it acts as a natural control of mosquitoes, and mosquito-borne diseases. In its natural habitat, it looks like a dull fish as you see it from the top. It is only when you see it from the sides, in clear water, that sparkling colors come out.
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pied paddy skimmer

Posted by on 08 Sep 2011

The pied paddy skimmers, with their white-banded black coloured wings, are one of my favorite dragonflies. They bring back all the nostalgic childhood days, as I remember them from the time since when I was a kid – when I used to play out in the fields.

pied paddy skimmer, neurothemis tullia on a water lily

The pied colors and the habitat give them the name pied paddy skimmer. It is the males which have the black colored wings as above, while the females have golden yellow wings with dark spots/tips. These paddy skimmers are often found around ponds, fields, and all kind of pools of water. Their flight is also conspicuous, undulating and floating in the air, much like a butterfly.
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caterpillar stitching

Posted by on 13 Jun 2011

You might have seen a tailor bird stitching its nest. Have you, but, seen a caterpillar stitching out its haven?

caterpillar stitching
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the mother’s day spider

Posted by on 15 May 2011

Mother. Struggling to carry its egg to a safe position.

theridula angula spider
The Mother’s Day Spider

Species: theridula angula Family: theridiidae
Common Name: Pearl Spider
Location: Kottayam, Kerala